Startup turning lobster shells into plastic alternative
Marie Donlon | April 05, 2019
A London-based startup is turning lobster shells into a plastic alternative.
The startup, called Shellworks, has developed a technique for extracting chitin, a bio-polymer, from lobster shells for the purpose of turning it into bioplastic material that can substitute for single-use plastics which pollute the environment. To extract the chitin, the lobster shells are ground in a blender and then introduced to an acid and alkali solution that lifts away layers of mineral and protein to reveal chitin nanofibers. From there, the chitosan powder is added to household vinegar, resulting in a bioplastic solution. That solution is then used in Shellworks' custom machines to create 3D objects.
Shellworks’ co-founder Insiya Jafferjee said: "We started with lobster shells because it has the highest content of chitin, it makes up about 30 to 40 per cent of the shell. It's an untapped waste stream."
The startup is currently at work on chitin-based formulas that could potentially result in alternative materials for traditional single-use plastics, like plastic shopping bags. While the team continues to explore whether or not the chitin-based material can hold up under the pressure demands, the team has already determined that the chitin-based material is both antifungal and antibacterial — meaning that it could have potential applications for food storage and, at the end of its life, as non-polluting fertilizer.
Considering its availability, waste shells could potentially be used to significantly curb plastic use in the U.K., according to Jafferjee, who went on to explain that one lobster chain with nine different restaurants could produce roughly 375 tonnes of shell waste per year. That is 125,000 kg of chitin, which could translate to 7.5 million plastic bags each year, Jafferjee concluded.
“We've been speaking to different chains in London and getting the shells from them because it's quite an easy collection point. They actually have to separate their shellfish waste from their food waste. So it's already separated and we can kind of just collect it and use it for our experiments," Jafferjee added.
Wouldn't it be easier to just stop dumping trash in the ocean?
According to theworldcounts.com over 5 trillion plastic bags are produced annually. The development of this technique is interesting and it is important that this type of research continues. 7.5 million is a good start. However, it will not have any meaningful impact unless production capacity can be increased significantly.
The comment "wouldn't it be easier to just not dump into the ocean?" is something I have heard far too often.
Yes, you and your whole nation can promise to never dump plastics into the ocean and your nation will almost certainly keep that promise. But, no amount of good will on the part of the UK can possibly prevent cost conscious or thoughtless managers in other nations from duping plastics into the ocean.
The laudable exploitation of part of a waste stream to make a truly biodegradable plastic is a good first step in that it actually solves several problems. It frees up space in landfills and also helps prevent the poisonous and destructive effects of waste plastics.
I see several stumbling blocks however. First, is there enough feed stock to make production practical? Next, can this plastic be made economically and lastly, is there an established supply chain to allow wide distribution to other nations as well as to the UK.
Good idea but needs some thought.
Dan